Numerous book stores, memorials for authors and old book stalls spread out over 20,000-square feet of an entire floor of a building in Yangon’s Chinatown.
What’s not to like?
It’s called the Yangon Book Plaza and will open in early 2017 in Than Market, according to a post on the organizer’s Facebook page, which described it as the largest book mall in Southeast Asia.
Or rather the only book mall in Southeast Asia?
Anyway, it’s a welcome development.
Just as newspapers have faced challenges from the internet and growing mobile phone use, book culture in Yangon just isn’t what it used to be, with fewer stalls and shops around downtown and Pansodan street.
“I’ve tried for three years to open this book plaza. As far as I know, there are no other book plazas in Southeast Asia,” founder and well-known publisher/author U San Mon Aung told the Irrawaddy in an interview. “My idea is to refresh the book market, for sellers who are now facing challenges.”
He said there would be 30 actual stores, including, perhaps, an international book chain (ahem ahem Kinokuniya take note!).
On its Facebook page, the Yangon Book Plaza said the space would also host literature festivals and readings.
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